Iowa band - do they require them to go to games?

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iahawk20

Well-Known Member
Do they not require them to go to mens and womens basketball games? They were terrible when I was at Iowa a decade ago and it looks like they send about 12 band members when the Iowa men play about 4 when the women play now.

I know I am apparently asking a lot here but how can we not get better turnout from our band members, shouldnt this be a requirement? It gets old seeing other Big Ten schools with great bands and them rocking at home games yet we have a crappy turnout game after game.
 
iahawk20 said:
Do they not require them to go to mens and womens basketball games? They were terrible when I was at Iowa a decade ago and it looks like they send about 12 band members when the Iowa men play about 4 when the women play now.
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I have consistently commented that the band at women's games is better this year because they are more enthusiastic. Today's game (Sunday January 3) might have been a little lighter in number, but they had... let's see... at least four trumpets, two tubas (down from the typical four), three saxes, one clarinet?, some trombones, at least one euphonium, drum kit... and others. There were certainly more than a dozen in band today. I think that the band was a positive at this game just like the others. They are rowdy and play like a pep band should.
 
conn53victor said:
I have consistently commented that the band at women's games is better this year because they are more enthusiastic. Today's game (Sunday January 3) might have been a little lighter in number, but they had... let's see... at least four trumpets, two tubas (down from the typical four), three saxes, one clarinet?, some trombones, at least one euphonium, drum kit... and others. There were certainly more than a dozen in band today. I think that the band was a positive at this game just like the others. They are rowdy and play like a pep band should.
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I wish no band members would show up for once. Bands and basketball do not work out well together and it is one reason that CHA is such a poor basketball environment.
 
They take turns going to each event. Wife's brother plays in the band. He takes turns with the other ppl in his section to go to each of these games. I think they switch between mens and womens bball and wrestling.
 
Better suggestion:

1. Get rid of the stupid, loud rock music now piped into Iowa football games that appeals to a tiny minority of the fans in the stands (the under 30 crowd). Frankly, it sucks big time and sounds contrived to the extreme.
 
I don't expect anyone to change your minds about the music at Carver, but I think music adds to the atmosphere and live music is far better. I like thinks like the march of the tubas around the court and the one minute countdown music to the start of the game or half. I watched the Ohio State game on TV, and I noticed the live band much more than the canned music.
 
They aren't necessarily required to be there. They get paid like $10 a game (have to go to at least 10 games to get paid at all). And it's also winter break, so many of them aren't in town (I'd bet that the ones that are still there are from the IC area).
 
tm3308 said:
They aren't necessarily required to be there. They get paid like $10 a game (have to go to at least 10 games to get paid at all). And it's also winter break, so many of them aren't in town (I'd bet that the ones that are still there are from the IC area).
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$10 a gig? Certainly good training for real life as a musician. At least it's live music.
 
conn53victor said:
I don't expect anyone to change your minds about the music at Carver, but I think music adds to the atmosphere and live music is far better. I like thinks like the march of the tubas around the court and the one minute countdown music to the start of the game or half. I watched the Ohio State game on TV, and I noticed the live band much more than the canned music.
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I agree nearly 100% on the football music. But, hey, at least you can count on Baba O'Reilly being played at the 25:00 mark in the pre-game EVERY week. Almost to the second/minute every home game.

Most fans still think that song is called Teenage Wasteland.
 
At the women's game against Ohio State today, there were about 35 band members including 10-12 trumpets (my weapon of choice). I am biased. I took an admittedly unscientific survey of the people around me. Everyone gave the band a thumbs up, although one respondent said that when there are low numbers in the band, some songs suffer.

Also, the band definitely works very hard to be enthusiastic fans even when not playing including harassing opposing players, especially when shooting free throws.
 
I'm a band alum, and I love the traditions live music (marching and pep bands) bring to sporting events. (Also a trumpet player, conn53victor) Nowadays I am a high school band director and my pep band has been asked a few times to play for college games during winter break because there simply aren't enough college kids in town at that time to field a decent band. My band has played for a Drake men's game, an ISU volleyball match followed by an ISU men's bball the same day, and for the high school girls' tourney. I'm not sure if UI asks area high school bands for help or not, but with several great band programs around IA City, you'd think they would. Plus it's great experience for high schoolers.
 
tm3308 said:
They aren't necessarily required to be there. They get paid like $10 a game (have to go to at least 10 games to get paid at all). And it's also winter break, so many of them aren't in town (I'd bet that the ones that are still there are from the IC area).
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Pretty sure that is not the case. I don't think they get paid, but they might. The payment might be the free ticket. And even if they are, I'm sure not going to the games would get them kicked out of the band, thus making all the time they put in worthless.
 
Hawkeye11en1 said:
Pretty sure that is not the case. I don't think they get paid, but they might. The payment might be the free ticket. And even if they are, I'm sure not going to the games would get them kicked out of the band, thus making all the time they put in worthless.
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I just remembered reading something about being paid $10 per game when I looked into joining my freshman year (2008-2009). And yes, if they rarely show up, I'm sure they would get booted. Which is why they have to show up to at least 10 games to get paid at all. If that wasn't a stipulation, there would probably be a few more "hit and runs", getting a quick $10 before quitting. Most of them are there every night (during the semester) anyway, so that part doesn't really matter for them. It probably is more meant to deter people who would be looking to waste time.
 
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